DIY Classic Halloween Face Masks

Did everyone feel that temperature drop this morning?

That chill means Halloween is right around the corner, and there’s never been a more perfect time for a holiday centered around masks, right? It’s like the best of both worlds fusing together in perfect harmony. We have LOVED our Portland Garment Factory Artist face masks since they come in plain cotton, making them the perfect canvas for adornment so we DIYd some classic Halloween costumes into face masks.

Easy DIY Halloween Face Masks

Even if you’re putting on a costume to hang out at home and watch the Sanderson sisters’ hijinks, our DIY Halloween Face Masks Tutorial will scratch that creative itch. And, as everyone knows, I don’t believe costumes are just for one night in October. Where’s the fun in that? Yep, you can reuse these masks for playtime, too (or for wearing when you leave your house for the first time in months to take out the trash and you don’t want your neighbors to see you…).

One note: I already LOVED Portland Garment Factory’s plain cotton face masks, because I’ve found them to be the best shape for breathability–you don’t suck the fabric in and out! So, working with them on this project was really a practical choice. And a bonus that you can have so much fun with them!

How to Make DIY Halloween Face Masks

You will need:

• Scissors
• Face paint for the areas around the eyes
• Sewing machine + thread to match the mask fabric
• OR plain cotton face masks (again, we used the Artst set from Portland Garment Factory)
• Iron + ironing board

Classic Halloween Face Masks

We chose some classic Halloween costume ideas to show just how easy to is to transform the iconic into a practical face mask/costume. You can choose from a jack-o-lantern, mummy, a Day of the Dead skeleton. 

Jack-O-Lantern Mask

Materials

• Orange fabric or orange face mask here
• Mask template
• Black oversized ric rac
• Black paint
• Jack-o-lantern template

Instructions:

1. Sew your orange face mask
2. Trace your template onto the mask
3. You can see that I first was going to embroidery it, but I decided to paint it (easier and faster!). However you’d like to do it!
4. Sew or glue the ric rac into the face mask (don’t you love how it mimics the mouth?!?!)

Mummy

This DIY Mummy costume requires no toilet paper, so don’t worry about making a dent in your 2020 stash. 

Materials

• Plain muslin mask (from Portland Factory’s Artist pack)
• Cheese cloth
• Muslin fabric
• Quarter inch cotton lace
• Stretchy white netting
• Gold and tan ribbon
• Earl Grey Tea
• Hot glue
• Pins
• Gold Thread
• Metallic Gold Thread

Instructions

1. 1. Cut muslin fabric into a 8 by 8 inch square.
   2. Tear strips of muslin fabric into varying strips of ½ inch to 1 inch.
   3. Cut sections of cheese cloth into similar sized strips
   4. Fill a bowl with hot water and brew four tea bags.
   5. Submerge the strips of fabric in the tea, dying them until desired color is reached.
   6. Remove strips and rinse, the color will lighten slightly after rinsed and dried.
   7. Leave strips to dry, you can speed the process with a hairdryer and straightener on a low setting.
   8. Trim along the long edge of the gold ribbon and fray the edge. Cut into similar length sections.
   9. Cut the stretchy netting into three strips and form into a thin braid.
   10. Layer the fabric strips and ribbons in a criss-cross pattern across the mask. Use the pins to keep them in place.
   11. Trim excess fabric around the mask.
   12. Layer by layer hot glue each strip onto the mask and on to each other.
   13. Lightly hot glue the braid along the bottom of the mask.
   14. Sketch a scarab beetle onto a 1 by 1 inch piece of muslin fabric.
   15. Using the gold thread embroider along the pattern. Use metallic thread as an accent.
   16. Hot glue four strips to the back of the mask to serve as ties for the mask.

Ok, this picture I just thought was funny. I’m about 7 months pregnant and clearly my dresses aren’t wrapping around right now.

Need More Ideas?

Need some more Halloween costume ideas? Well you’ve come to the right place! Check out our Halloween archive for tons of DIY costume, party, and decor ideas. 

How to win this year’s Halloween costume contest
7 Artsy and Iconic Halloween Costume Ideas
Our Favorite Face Masks